DIVISION IV GIRLS: Hanks helps Round Mountain top Sidewinders, earn state berth

Round Mountain’s Alyssa Hanks knew she would have an advantage down low in her Division IV Southern Region semifinal against Sandy Valley.

The 5-foot-11-inch freshman couldn’t have envisioned a much better game on Friday, though, nearly recording a double-double by halftime and making the paint her secondary home.

Hanks scored 20 points and had 18 rebounds to lead the Knights to a 52-40 win over the Sidewinders at Chaparral.

Round Mountain (13-11) plays Pahranagat Valley (14-10) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Spring Valley in the championship. Both teams will advance to the Division IV state tournament, which begins Feb. 27 at Orleans Arena. It will be Round Mountain’s first trip to state since 1999.

“She came out and carried us again tonight,” Round Mountain coach Jake Topholm said. “We’ve got to run our offense through her. We go through her (with) an inside-outside game. She’s going to be a player. She’s big underneath.”

Hanks, who also had three blocks, owned the paint on both ends. She scored 15 of her game-high 20 points in the opening half to give the Knights a 28-16 lead at the break.

“It was huge having a double-digit lead going into the half,” Topholm said. “Because they did make a little bit of a run (in the fourth quarter). If we didn’t have that lead when they put on that run, it would’ve been a different game, I think.”

Round Mountain pushed its lead to 48-29 midway through the fourth quarter, but it was quickly cut to 48-38 with 2:05 to go.

But it was just too late for the Sidewinders to mount a comeback.

Esmeralda Solano scored 11 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter for Sandy Valley. She also finished with nine rebounds and three steals.

Lauren Cripe added eight points, and Jacinda Fansher had seven rebounds for the Sidewinders (9-5).

Hannah Swafford notched 12 points and four steals for Round Mountain.

“I’m just very proud of them,” Topholm said. “I’m proud of how they executed and played today. This a very young team and they’re going to the state tournament. I’m excited about that.”

Pahranagat Valley 55, Lund 22 – Madison Harris and Madalyn Taylor each supplied 12 points and five rebounds to lead a balanced attack, and the Panthers closed the game on a 21-4 run to rout the Mustangs (6-8).

Kalli Hosier had nine points, three steals and three assists, and Jamie Hansen added seven points for Pahranagat Valley, which led 23-13 at the half.

“We like to spread the scoring out,” Panthers coach Amy Huntsman said. ” I think it’s so much more difficult to guard a team that has several kids in double-figures. That’s kind of our game plan. We’re a much better team when we’re moving the ball.”

The Panthers aggressively used their full-court pressure to force 22 turnovers, and they held Lund to just three field goals in the entire second half.

“We’re very, very quick,” Hunstman said. “We’re not big, but we’re fast. You have to play to your strengths, and that’s one of our strengths this year.”

Kelsea Reid led Lund with eight points, and teammate Angel Greely supplied six points and 11 rebounds.